Changing course midstream for RSVP

Wednesday

Dec 4, 2013 at 12:01 AM

Almost 25 years ago, RSVP of Monroe County was established with the intent to draw on the experience and talents of citizens 55 and over to assist and help the needy, frail, lonely and other vulnerable populations of the county in any way possible, working through nonprofit agencies and their clients. What a great idea! Keeping healthy seniors involved in their community served a dual purpose.

Merle Turitz

Almost 25 years ago, RSVP of Monroe County was established with the intent to draw on the experience and talents of citizens 55 and over to assist and help the needy, frail, lonely and other vulnerable populations of the county in any way possible, working through nonprofit agencies and their clients. What a great idea! Keeping healthy seniors involved in their community served a dual purpose.

First, it meant giving seniors and newly retired citizens a reason to "put their shoes on in the morning" instead of watching TV and letting their minds go to rot. Keeping seniors active and involved meant providing older adults with a healthier, more meaningful quality of life.

Second, it also meant, that at the same time, we could find additional man (and woman) power, to assist ailing, overworked, under-budget nonprofits with their clients' needs. It was a win-win government-sponsored, locally managed situation.

Experienced seniors

Suddenly, unmet community needs could be satisfied using vibrant, experienced seniors who were willing and able. Under-achieving school students could be tutored privately, leading to better grades in math and reading. Home-bound seniors in need of meals or groceries, were able to maintain a full refrigerator of food. Lonely citizens could feel more connected and less isolated with a visit by a cheerful volunteer, who could help with mail sorting or reading a newspaper. Creative knitters and sewers could meet together in groups or work at home on projects such as lap robes, clothing or other toys that would be distributed to those in need.

Some volunteers would be placed in food pantries, thrift stores, parks, bookstores or other venues so that nonprofit organizations could reach their full capacity.

Over the 23 years, RSVP amassed a full roster of Monroe County senior volunteers assisting at the local libraries, senior centers, personal-care facilities, hospitals, blood centers, schools and more. With no more than a submission of a monthly time sheet to vouch one's hour, RSVP grew to an overwhelming population of 2,100 volunteers.

Production statistics

However, just as any government-sponsored agency is subject to the goals of the newest administration's leadership, RSVP was now instructed and required to show production statistics. Why? To anger long-time RSVP volunteers and streamline the burgeoning roster? No, although it sometimes seemed so.

RSVP, like any other national government agency, is supported by tax dollars and those tax dollars better be buying something tangible, provable and measurable, not just the subjective "warm fuzzies" that come along with doing a good deed. The taxpayers demanded proof that their dollars were being used efficiently and productively. To meet that demand across all the programs (Vista, Senior Corps, Americorps), a standard of measurable criteria was established and subject to audits. Programs that do not meet the set criteria — well, they would be abolished or replaced with ones that do.

So RSVP, in order to survive and maintain its government funding, had to realign its original mission to concur with the new national standards as set by its parent organization, The Corporation for National and Community Service.

While the majority of our volunteers thankfully fit into the measurable criteria now required, many did not and the roster had to be culled. This was not an easy task, as saying "good-bye" to our closest friends often isn't. After a careful review of the roster, volunteers who were not complying with the monthly time sheet requirement and many who were not agreeable to providing a criminal clearance, were graduated out of the program and the number of volunteers dropped to 850.

Most fit in

Without getting into the details of the new performance measures, most of our current volunteers fit into the Healthy Futures focus area, which allow vulnerable seniors to age in place (stay in their homes versus going to personal-care facilities), meet certain nutritional standards and feel more socially connected, with accommodations provided by RSVP volunteers.

New monthly time sheets were updated so statistics on the number of seniors receiving these services could be tracked. It is no longer just about the number of hours served, but the impact on the nation that those hours mean.

Other focus areas included education, environment, economics, disaster recovery and preparedness, and veteran/military families where RSVP volunteers were serving and could also be tracked.

Some of these statistics include the number of miles of cleaned trails in parks, the number of people trained in disaster preparedness, the number of children receiving math and reading tutoring, the number of people upgrading their skills that could lead to employment and the number of veterans receiving counseling.

There are still a large number of RSVP volunteers serving general community needs, such as clerical positions, bulk mailings, library, hospital, nursing homes, senior centers and other volunteer opportunities; however, that is limited to a certain percentage to meet the new criteria.

Moving forward

With an eye to the future, RSVP is developing new and challenging opportunities for the newly retired who are seeking to use their education and technology savvy to help nonprofit organizations and council vulnerable populations, as well. As baby-boomers age out of the work force, they come equipped with a different skill set and goals than the previous generation of volunteers.

I have often described my position as "Yente the Matchmaker" when people ask me what is RSVP, but sometimes it feels more like a circus juggler. While balancing the needs of all our volunteers, our funders and stake holders, and of course, our community, RSVP remains committed to meeting the new challenges that face us.

If you would like to learn more about the impact RSVP is having on Monroe County or you are thinking about ways you can help enhance the lives of others, please call me at 570-420-3747. I'd love to hear your ideas.